Biography

Was a major Elvis Presley as a 13 year old child. But his father disapproved of his singing English songs. He changed his name from Sharad Kumar Bader to Sharad Kumar for his career.

In the late 1960s and early 1970s, as Elvis returned to performing after a movie-making stint in Hollywood, Sharad Kumar - he dropped the family surname on stage - was riding the star's glitzy coattails, gaining fame in his own right after turning his Elvis passion into a successful touring act.While the real deal wowed at shows almost exclusively in the U.S., Kumar toured India, Sri Lanka, Nairobi, Singapore and more - decked out in flared, shiny one-piece suits, of course - bringing a culture-clashing blend of Elvis and Hindi music to eager crowds.

At 35, with 11 movies and countless shows under his bejeweled belt, Kumar felt an urge to move to something new. The sheen of celebrity had worn off.Kumar and his new wife, Gita Bader, a kindergarten teacher turned Air India flight attendant he met at a party, traveled to Vancouver and fell in love with the city. Not long after, they packed up and moved.They lived on the west coast for six years as Kumar did a career 180 and worked in insurance. In the mid-'80s, two young boys in tow, they moved to Toronto, where for 10 years the family ran an Indian restaurant, called Chowpatty, in Scarborough.They also launched Zara's Gourmet Kitchen, an Indian vegetarian and vegan food company whose products are sold in health food and grocery stores.

In the early 80s, Sharad Kumar quit the film industry and moved to Vancoucer BC, Canada . There he sold insurance as a job and did stage shows as a Indian Elvis Presley impersonator.

Also used the screen name "Jolly Bader" later on in his career abroad.